A dog was barking outside. He looked at the clock -- 2AM, and he still wasnt asleep. It'd been going on for weeks now. Promptly at 10:30, he'd brush his teeth and go to bed, only to spend the next five to six hours trying to get to sleep... and when he did, it seemed like it was only for a few minutes before the slightest noise woke him again. 2:05. People at work had been talking, wondering why he would suddenly doze off in the middle of a meeting. It was never for very long, only a few seconds, but long enough for his superior to take note. And that wasnt good, not at all. 2:10. He turned over and stared at the wall. A slight pattern of light and shadow danced before him, from cars passing by outside. His cats loved to play with the moving light, but now they were, quite sensibly, asleep at the foot of the bed. He stared at him in wonderment. How come they got to nod off so easily when he had to struggle for the slightest bit of unconsciousness? It wasnt fair! 2:20. Resigned, he got up and walked into the kitchen, feeling a slight pain in his side as he did. Damn mattress. Maybe that was the problem. Maybe he just needed one that was less... lumpy... or something. He drank a glass of tap water, then padded back to the bedroom, throwing himself at the mercy of Morpheus yet again. 2:30. This is silly, he thought angrily. Other people can just fall asleep like that, and it's no big deal. How come I have to deal with this? And what is this intolerable pain in my side? Thats it: tomorrow I take the day off from work and see a doctor. 2:35. He lay there, become more and more frustrated. He turned over, and as if following his move, the pain moved to the other side, a sharp tiny little pain right in the middle of his ribs. Maybe he had cancer. Yeah, there's a sleep inducing idea for ya, bud. 2:40. The dog barked again. He finally drifted off for a few minutes before the alarm jangled him back into consciousnes at 5:30. He sat on the edge of the bed with a heavy sigh. This is ridiculous; I gotta get some sleep! He trudged into the bathroom and started the morning ritual,ignoring as best he could the slowly enlarging bags under his eyes... --------------------------------------- I think we've made the point by now, dont you agree? I suppose. All right, if he can feel that, that proves he's... Not so fast. True, it may prove it on one level, but we still have to make sure. I suppose you're right. But something tells me he's the one. :: snort :: As if a single pea can prove anything...